SSTO Concept Design PT Task List

Define Requirements of SSTO

The first step in creating a vehicle is knowing what it must do. Here
the requirements are laid out in detail, so that the strawman design can be
made reflecting them. The requirements are subject to little change after
being set.

1. Mission Design

1.1. Delta-V Requirements

1.2. Refueling Requirements

1.3. Aerobraking Requirements

1.4. Supplementary Hydrogen Capacity

2. Spacecraft Requirements

2.1. Payload Capacity

2.2. Passenger Capacity

2.3. Acceleration

2.4. Structure Fraction

Operations Requirements

Turnaround Time

Operating Cost

Safety

Reusability

Create Preliminary Strawman Design

Once we have the requirements of the passenger SSTO, we then draw up a
preliminary design. This, of course, is always being modified when it is
found to lead to excessive air drag, or an unreasonable mass-ratio, or some
other flaw. It is then changed to reflect the data, and the new design is
checked until the spacecraft meets or exceeds all the requirements.

Detail Design, Mass, Performance, Cost

Here we take the strawman design, and expand it, and detail its systems
to get an accurate idea of its performance, cost, and basically how well it
compares to the requirements. Where it falls short (for example, having
an insufficient payload after a modification), a change is recommended and
the strawman design is altered (for example, replacing the structure with
composites and increasing the vehicle size).

Coordinate with other Technical Committees

The SSTO to the moon project is essential to the long-term future of
lunar development. Because of its importance, it is essential to keep other
technical committees up-to-date as to the current design, requirements,
payload, and other topics of interest so the other Technical Committees can
do their work accurately. Other groups will be added as they get
organized.

Volunteer

The SSTO Concept Design Project Team is always looking for new members
to help with the tasks outlined above. This is an essential field of work,
and it's a lot of fun too! If you are willing to give it a try, please send mail with the task you
want to help with to OSF Administrator
<osf-admin@asi.org>.